Map showing the division between the Highlands and the Lowlands - Argyllshire is part of the Highlands

Early years in Scotland

Malcolm McLaran (also spelt "McLeoran") was born in Argyllshire, Scotland, in 1799, the son of Malcolm McLeoran (1770 - ?) and Marey McBride. The McLeoran family belonged to the farming community of Southend.

Scottish birth and marriage records show that an extensive McLeoran family lived in Southend Parish. Malcolm Senior was living and working at Gartvaie (later spelt "Gartvain") in 1799 and in 1825 Malcolm Junior was employed by "Herd Feorline". The farm (named "Feolan"*) continues today several miles west of Southend - refer the attached map.

Neighbouring farm "Carskiey Estate" is "Carskey", where both Malcolm Junior's wives, Margaret McQuilkan and Jane McShenoig, were employed in 1825 and 1845 respectively when he married them.

*Feorlin means "farthing land" - a measure of the land area. The spelling varies over time.

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1799 Marriage record McLeoran - McBride.When Malcolm's parents married in Southend Parish in 1799, Malcolm Senior was working at Gartvaie (Gartvain in the 1869 Ordnance Survey Map below).

1799 Church record of the birth of "Malcom McLeoran".

LecknacreiveThe 1851 Census records Malcolm, his wife Jane, his daughter Margaret & infant son Alexander lived at Lecknacreive near the border of Southend & Campbeltown Parishes. The farm site was in ruins in 1880 and appeared freshly levelled in 2009 Google Streetview.

Emigration from ScotlandIn 19th-century Scotland, emigration was the result of force, persuasion, fall of cattle prices and the potato famine. Until about 1855, a number of the emigrants from the Highlands (Argyllshire is considered to be part of the Highlands) were forcibly evicted from their land. In 1851 the Duke of Argyll said "I wish to send out those whom we would be obliged to feed if they stayed at home; to get rid of that class is the object."

In the Lowlands, the decision to move abroad was nearly always the outcome of the desire to improve one’s living standards. Whatever the reason, Scotland lost between 10% and 47% of the natural population increase every decade. Read more.

Articles from Trove, Dalby land purchases, Margaret's wedding certificate and Malcolm Goodman's birth certificate indicate that Malcolm, Jane and Alexander lived in and around Ipswich between arrival and the early 1860's, whilst Donald, Duncan and Margaret gained employment in the Dalby district.

It is possible that Denis Sullivan, Margaret McLaren's future husband, may have been a sailor on board America. When he died in 1914, Denis had been in Queensland 60 years, but available immigration lists do not list his arrival.

1853 America passenger list.

11 Jan 1853The America arrived in Moreton Bay. Amongst the 336 immigrants were Malcolm McLaran and his family from Argyle, Scotland.

Above : Part of the America manifesto showing the McLaran family. Note the following:

the family name was spelt "McLeoran"

Malcolm's age was recorded as 10 years younger than his actual age

Malcolm's parents were named "Malcolm and Margaret, both dead"

Jane's parents were named "Donald & Barbara McShamock, both dead"

Only Malcolm could both read and write, the others could only read.

Malcolm's occupation was listed as a "shepherd".

Over 60 years later, the tortuous voyage of the America was recalled in the Truth newspaper in 1915 :

23 May 1915 TruthTHE EARLY HISTORY OF QUEENSLAND.​The Immigration Board was frequently called upon to investigate such charges as that in which the surgeon-superintendent of the ship America was charged with neglect and incapability of at tending to duty. In the case named the charge was substantiated, and the Surgeon-superintendent fined half his salary. The forfeiture, amounted to £80. The owners of the America had chartered her to convey immigrants to Brisbane at £17 per head, or, as the immigration chronicles so quaintly put it, per "soul." The ship was unseaworthy, the provisions bad and scarce, the doctor old and feeble, mentally and physically. The boat was supposed to be victualled for 22 weeks, but the 300 persons on board had to make miserable shifts for food after a mast was shattered and the ship delayed in her passage.

1874 Malcolm was described by a government inspector of son Donald's selection (Frogmore) as "an old man who knew nothing and said less".

1876 Grandson Walter Goodman Jnrarrived in Dalby from U.K, having never met his mother or half-siblings previously

c. 1876 Malcolm may have suffered from senile dementia around this time - or earlier

1879 Malcolm's selection Lot 295 of 320 acres beside son Donald's selection at Oakey Creek received a certificate of fulfilment of conditions. The 2 selections eventually combined with Malcolm's Lot 296 to create "Kilkevan", which was sold in the 1890's to James Alexander McLennan, brother of William Boyd McLennan, first husband of Sophia McLaran, Donald McLaran's eldest daughter.

1884 Malcolmdied in Dalby, survived in Queensland by 17 descendants ..... and an unknown number of descendants in Scotland, USA or Canada.

Some of the major events in Malcolm's life listed above are included in other pages on this website. Remaining events may be discovered on Trove, in BDM Qld certificates and at the Qld State Archives.

1884 Death​Malcolm's passing was summarised in Queensland Figaro:

Survived in Queensland by 17 descendants (2 of his 5 emigrant children (Catherine and Donald), 12 of his 15 grandchildren and 3 of his 4 great grandchildren), Malcolm McLaran's final tally of grandchildren would reach 21 and great grandchildren 79. He may also have been survived by sons and their descendants in USA or Canada.

The list of subscribers for the relief of suffering caused by the Indian Mutiny (left) indicates Malcolm resided and worked for around 10 (1853 - 1863) years in the Ipswich area. Thereafter (for 22 years) Malcolm lived in the Dalby district.

​Comment: The brief notice in Queensland Figaro may have been written by Clara Eversden. With the passing of Malcolm, Donald McLaran consolidated the 3 half square mile lots at St Ruth to form Kilkevan..

Kilkevan was sold in the early 1890’s to James McLennan, a brother of Donald’s future son-in-law. For many years in the 20th century the property was owned by Mr Clive Worthington and the southern access road is now named Worthington’s Rd. The northern access road is named Duncan’s Rd. - perhaps after Donald's brother who died in 1879. There was a close friendship between Clive and my grandfather, Malcolm Lewis McLaran, Donald's one son who lived in Dalby all his life.

Malcolm McLaran's death certificate.

Notes from the certificate recorded by FW Roche, the "King of Dalby":

Malcolm died at the Pratten Street home of his daughter Catherine Milford on 17 Sep 1884

His father's name was Malcolm McLaren and he was a labourer

The death was certified by Catherine (Kate) Milford

Malcolm's age was 84, just shy of the 85 recorded

He had suffered from senility for 7 - 8 years - his consistent signature 1868 through to 1881 and his property purchase in 1881 suggest he may not have been as senile as the certificate says.

He was buried (an unmarked grave) in the Dalby Monumental Cemetery

His first wife's name was recorded as "Margaret Wilson" and his second wife's as "Jane McShennon"

Living children were listed as "Kate" (50) and Donald (45) .... correct ages should be 53 and 51

Only deceased offspring recorded are 2 males (Duncan and Alexander) and 1 female (Margaret)

​There is no mention of his other children: Malcolm, John and perhaps another son.